Overview

• South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou demonstrated succulents that glow in multiple colors after brief exposure to sunlight or LED light.
• Each charge produced an afterglow lasting up to about 120 minutes in the reported experiments.
• The method injects phosphor nanoparticles into leaves, leveraging the plants’ uniform leaf channels to distribute the particles for an even glow.
• A 56-plant installation was bright enough to illuminate nearby objects in dark conditions.
• External experts warned that the chemicals could be toxic if ingested and that long-term effects on plant health remain unclear.